Have No Fear

Manager Mark Hughes believes the players can get a positive result at Old Trafford

You can't go to Old Trafford and be apprehensive about what's ahead of you. You have to be positive and have a go"

Mark Hughes

MARK HUGHES has urged his Stoke City players to show no sign of apprehension when they go head-to-head with Manchester United tomorrow.

The Potters have claimed only one point from their last 10 meetings with United but ex-Red Hughes firmly believes his side are capable of rewriting the record books when they make the short trip up the M6.

Hughes knows exactly what it takes to win at Old Trafford having guided Blackburn to 2-1 victory there back in September 2005.

And he believes the Potters can draw inspiration from West Brom after they ended a near 35-year wait for a win at Old Trafford last month with a 2-1 victory.

Stoke brought their three-match losing streak to a close last Saturday with a goalless draw against the Baggies and Hughes told Stoke City Player: "West Brom have gone there and won, so it's more than possible that we can get a positive result.

"We're playing well away from home, arguably slightly better away from home than we are at home, so if we can take our performance level and keep it high we can go there and be positive.

"You can't go to Old Trafford and be apprehensive about what's ahead of you. You have to be positive and have a go.

"Our expectations and the expectations of our fans are high. We want to go there and put in a positive performance - if we do can that then let’s see what happens."

Hughes is quite rightly regarded as a United legend, having scored 163 goals in 467 appearances in two spells with the Red Devils, and he is relishing a return to his former stamping ground.

"It's nice to go and show there’s still life in you, even when you've left Manchester United," the 49 year old adds.

"I've always enjoyed going back there. I;ve been there on numerous occasions – it’s not something that’s new to me, I know what the experience is like. I'm looking forward to it.

"Historically, Stoke’s record is poor against United but there’s always a first time.

"The key is to go there and think it’s going to be our day; that if we do everything right and our general play is at a good level and we take our chances when they present themselves we can win."